# Do solar panels act as an electrical load on the sun? Tags: electricity, sun - Score: 18 - Views: 7956 - Answers: 3 - Answered: yes - Asked by: user18398875 (305 rep) - Asked: 2022-11-13 - Edited: 2023-02-14 - Site: physics ## Question We know that the sun uses nuclear fusion to generate sunlight and heat energy. If we are using solar panels to harvest solar energy, aren't we putting some electrical load(resistance) on the sun? If yes, does it have any effects on it? Edit: Does the presence of a receiver affect the working of the broadcasting sender? It is more of a philosophical question. ## Answers ### Answer by Solomon Slow (score: 71) There is no electrical connection between our solar panels and the Sun. The Sun radiates electromagnetic energy (photons) out into space. If we catch some of those photons, the Sun neither knows nor cares about it. In fact, we'll catch those photons regardless of whether we set up a solar panel or not. If you took away the solar panel from somebody's roof top, then the same photons that would have been absorbed by the panel, will be absorbed by the rooftop instead. Whereas some of their energy would have been converted into electrical ene